Two months after the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University, his security director has revealed a series of preventable security failures that contributed to the tragic incident. Brian Harpole, a veteran law enforcement officer and founder of Integrity Security Solutions, detailed to ‘The Shawn Ryan Show’ how his team had repeatedly raised concerns regarding the lack of aerial coverage and the insufficient number of law enforcement officers at the Sept. 10 event.
According to Harpole, his team was informed that the rooftops were under surveillance. However, he emphasized that the police department’s promises of coverage were not fulfilled. ‘We couldn’t break the law to do what needs to be done, so we relied on the police, and no one was up there,’ Harpole remarked. Despite these efforts, the security measures were inadequate, allowing the perpetrator to access the restricted areas from the rooftops and commit the crime.
The security director highlighted how prior events had shaped his team’s approach to the Utah event. His team had faced similar challenges during a previous Turning Point USA appearance in San Francisco, where protesters had breached barriers, forcing the team to fight their way out with minimal law enforcement support. These experiences influenced the team’s decision to request additional security measures for the Utah event, but their suggestions were not fully implemented.
Furthermore, Harpole mentioned the challenges posed by jurisdictional limitations, which restricted the security team’s ability to provide comprehensive coverage. While his team had planned to deploy drones for aerial surveillance, they were denied authorization due to regulatory restrictions. These complications highlighted the complexities of ensuring security for large public events, where multiple entities are involved in providing safety measures.
Following the incident, the university has initiated a comprehensive review of their security protocols, aiming to implement changes that could prevent similar incidents in the future. UVU officials have emphasized the need for improved safety measures and increased oversight for campus events. The university has also stated its commitment to integrating the findings of this review into its safety protocols to benefit the broader higher education community in Utah.
Harpole’s decision to speak publicly is aimed at ensuring that the lessons learned from the tragedy are applied to prevent future occurrences. He emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability in addressing the security failures that led to the event. The university has taken steps to strengthen its security measures, including the hiring of additional police officers and the implementation of new safety protocols.